About 4 times a year Campnavigator publishes a full-color digital magazine with additional articles about summer camps, and topics related to issues campers, parents and camp staff members will find interesting. In the most recent issue, there is an article about the role community plays at Rockbrook and its power to boost campers’ self esteem. It’s a short piece that shows another way that a summer camp experience is amazingly beneficial.

Here’s the article. Give it a click, and a quick read!

You're reading RBC Featured in CampNavigator, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

At Rockbrook, our mission is:

“To provide a haven for girls,

a place of their own,

where they can explore the beauty of nature,

try new things,

enjoy carefree summer living,

and make some of their very best friends.”

You're reading An Experience to Last a Lifetime, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!!!

You're reading RBC Madness!!!, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

This could be the reason that one of the most appreciated Rockbrook activities is archery.  Who has the resources/equipment to try an activity like archery on their own?  Not many, that’s for sure.  For years, Archery has been one of the most sought after activities at camp.  That esteem has only increased thanks to the fact that the most celebrated book-turned-movie series out right now is The Hunger Games, a story in which the main character, Katniss Everdeen, is depicted as an underdog, then champion, then heroine.  And, as we all know by now, the skill that sets Katniss apart from the rest — she’s a magician with a bow and arrow.  Katniss with a bow and arrow is like Michael Jordan with the basketball as time expires during the playoffs: GOLDEN.  So, it’s only fitting that archery’s popularity as an activity at camp has soared.  Suddenly we find ourselves thinking: I want to be like Katniss.

This is where Rockbrook and Katniss collide.  Longtime Rockbrook girl, Marston, decided early on that archery was one of her favorite activities at camp.  It didn’t take us long to see how much Marston enjoyed archery, and bullseye after bullseye proved that she was pretty good at it too.  Besides loving archery, Marston’s also a pretty big Hunger Games fan.  Check out the photos below of Marston, on the left, and Katniss, on the right.  I’m no expert when it comes to archery technique, but I think Katniss could take a few tips from Marston.  Such focus, such form!

You go, Marston!

Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games

So Marston’s a super archer and she likes The Hunger Games.  Cool coincidence?  Here’s another awesome addition to the saga: Jennifer Lawrence, the Oscar award winning actress who plays Katniss, seems pretty hip by any standards, and Marston met her!!!!!!!!!!!!  Exciting, huh?  Archery, Katniss, Marston, and Rockbrook all coming together.  I wonder if Jennifer got any good shooting tips from Marston?  Maybe the two can set up a meeting on the range.  I have my money on the Rockbrook girl, our very own version of Katniss!

Martson and Jennifer Lawrence pow-wowing on the red carpet.

You're reading Rockbrook’s Katniss, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

We have some exciting news to report on.  Today is a very special day around the Rockbrook office, and I want to tell you why.  Drum roll please…CAMP STARTS IN 100 DAYS!  That’s right, 100 days!  The countdown starts now, and we couldn’t be more excited as we’re busy planning what we hope will be one of the best Rockbrook summers yet.

Sofie’s excited about this summer!

Jeff’s excited too!

Since we’re in the spirit of counting down, we thought we would give you a list of the top ten reasons we’re excited about camp this summer.

#10. We can’t wait to see the horses!

#9. Shaving Cream Fights!

#8. We love to dance!

#7. We can’t wait to find out what the play will be!

#6. Let’s dress up!

#5. DOLLY’S

#4. We want to try new things!

#3. We want to see old friends.

#2. We want to meet new friends!

And, finally…..
#1. We can’t wait to spend our summer in the Heart of the Wooded Mountain…

You're reading Countdown To Summer!, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

Galentine’s Day, celebrated annually on February 13th, is a spin on the more traditional holiday known as “Valentine’s Day.”  This is simply a day for us to celebrate all of the wonderful gal pals in our lives.  Make sure to show your mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, camp friends and others just how special they are this Galentine’s Day.  Watch this clip from the television show Parks and Recreation to see how the main character, Leslie Knope, defines and celebrates Galentine’s Day.

You're reading Happy Galentine’s Day, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

Just last month, Sarah flew from Florida to Maryland to visit Evie and to celebrate her birthday with her.  According to her mom, who wrote to tell us about the trip, Sarah’s winter break was “full of firsts that wouldn’t have happened if she had not attended camp this past summer.”  Sarah and Evie spent a week together and had lots of fun along the way.  The girls saw Les Miserables, played in the snow, went skiing, and counted down to 2013.  What a fun trip!  Check out some pictures of Sarah and Evie during their trip below, and be sure to let us know about any adventures you have with camp friends during the year- you might just make the blog!

Evie and Sarah reunite at the airport

Evie and Sarah hit the slopes!!!

They don’t look Les Miserables to us!

You're reading Friends True and Faithful, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

We're not afraid to get our hands dirty

An interesting article written on the Tennessee Today webpage sheds light on the importance of playing outside.  A University of Tennessee research team recently conducted a study to determine whether children who play on traditional playgrounds or children who play in natural settings are more active and/or more creative.  It turns out that children who play in a natural setting are both more active and use their imagination more than they do while playing on traditional playground equipment.  In fact, the children who participated in the study played nearly twice as much in the ‘natural playscape’ than they did on the regular playground.  This came as no surprise to us at Rockbrook.  We love playing in nature!

Run girls, run!

So what is it about nature that inspires us to play more than we would on a playground set?  Maybe it’s the freedom that we have to use our imagination and get creative.  Maybe it’s being able to decide what to do on our own.  Maybe it’s the excitement of the unknown.  Whatever it may be, we believe that the landscape that surrounds us fosters Rockbrook’s mission to allow girls to explore the beauty of nature and to try new things.

We love to play in the stream!

Playgrounds are great and all, but who is ready to ditch the swing set and monkey bars and head into a fairyland of beauty? We can’t wait to play outside with you all this summer! To read the full article about the mentioned study, click here.

You're reading Ditch the playground- come to camp!, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

You're reading Parent, Raleigh, NC, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter

Charlotte and I recently returned from a Rockbrook Roadtrip, and I wanted to share some of our highlights with you.  We traveled far and wide looking for RBC girls.  In just seven days we landed in five different cities, spent time with six awesome host families, met eight new canine friends, filled the gas tank close to ten times, saw nearly 150 slices of pizza be devoured, and laughed with countless Rockbrook campers, alumnae, and new pals. Needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

On day one, we headed south from Brevard and made it to Atlanta where we had a Rockbrook party at camper Kate’s house.  Kate hosted the party with her mom, Betsy, a RBC alumna.  We had so much fun! We weren’t ready to leave Georgia after we had such a great time in Atlanta, so we made stops in Columbus and Macon.  In Columbus, we laughed all night with Emma, our host camper, and her brother Cam.  We fell in love with their new puppy, Tank, but Emma wouldn’t let us take him home.

Tank resting in his basket!

Tank wasn’t the only furry friend that we wanted to take home with us.  We had a party at Anna Kate’s house in Macon where I was introduced to her sweet dog, Ollie.  I had heard rumors that Ollie was one of the best dogs I would ever meet.  Let me assure you, THE RUMORS ARE TRUE.  We saw lots of Rockbrook campers at the party in Macon, and Anna Kate’s mom Kathleen, a former camper herself, built a fire so we could all make s’mores.  Yum- talk about a crowd pleaser!

Anna Kate and Ollie roast a s’more

We visited Charlotte’s mom’s house in Georgia before heading North for our last two shows.  It’s only necessary that I mention this because I was able to snap a picture of LITTLE CHARLOTTE that I feel I must share with you.  Enjoy.  

After three fabulous shows in Georgia we made the eight hour drive to Charlottesville to catch up with camper Hannah Margaret and her parents, Wendy and Ed.  We loved seeing so many Rockbrook girls in Virginia, and a couple of loyal counselors, Lyndsey and Greer, made appearances also.  However, it was Hannah Margaret and her dog, Freckles, who stole the show in Charlottesville.  Freckles, a show dog in his own right, has won ribbons in a couple of local dog shows with Hannah Margaret as his trainer.  Go Freckles, Go!!! 

We were sad to leave Charlottesville, but excited to make it to DC where campers Tia, Wiley and Sarah were waiting for us!  The DC party, hosted by Alison and Jill, was such a blast!  The energy was amazing, and everyone was so excited to hear about camp.  We gave all the girls some RBC shades, and they rocked them To wrap our trip up, we had dinner with some of our favorite Rockbrook counselors in DC.  Elizabeth, Katie, Christine, Jane, Kendal, Charlotte and I laughed all night long.  It was great to catch up! We had such a great time out on the open road, and we loved seeing so many Rockbrook faces- new and old!  Thanks for coming out, y’all!  We hope to see you all again soon!

You're reading On the Road Again, originally posted on Rockbrook Summer Camp for Girls. Connect with Rockbrook on Facebook | Google+ | Twitter